Two local parents are appealing a federal court decision that favored the Walpole school district in a case regarding the treatment of their special needs daughter, with hopes of facing a jury later this year.

The U.S. District Court of Massachusetts dismissed Joanne and Kevin Tripp’s case against Walpole High School Principal Stephen Imbusch in February, brought about after a discussion with one of her daughter’s teachers led to what both parties called "threatening" and "inappropriate" action. Though the court decided in favor of the school district, ruling that Tripp’s claims of defamation, emotional distress and first amendment violations had no legal grounds, Kevin Tripp said the couple plans to appeal the decision.

The federal court allowed the school department’s motion for summary judgment, a pre-trial remedy based upon application of the law to undisputed facts of the case, stating that a "reasonable jury" could not return a verdict against the department. Judge Rya Zobel made the decision based on legal precedent for each of the Tripp’s claims.

After a meeting with their daughter’s teachers in September 2012, Joanne Tripp spoke to one teacher in the high school parking lot, something she and her husband claim was a positive interaction.

Later that week, the Tripps received a letter from Walpole High School principal Stephen Imbusch, telling Joanne Tripp that her conversation was an inappropriate confrontation, and that she would be considered a trespasser if another such interaction occurred. The letter was copied to the Walpole police and other members of the school staff, Kevin Tripp said.

The Tripps argued in court that the distribution of the letter amounted to defamation, and the stress caused by the incident worsened some of Joanne Tripp’s pre-existing medical conditions. The court decided no defamation occurred, ruling that Tripp’s own discussions of the letter with others in the community might have caused more harm than the school’s copying the letter to others.

The family said they requested a meeting with school Superintendent Lincoln Lynch before attempting to bring the case to court, to which they said they got a "curt" reply from the town attorneys stating "no apology will be forthcoming."

Lynch said he never received a request for a meeting, only a letter from the Tripp’s attorney that "threatened litigation," prompting the legal response. Tripp verified their first contact with Lynch was through legal counsel, but denied the threat of litigation.

Lynch said the administration regularly meets with Walpole parents to resolve issues, calling it "commonplace."

An investigation by the School Committee found no fault in the district’s actions.

The appeal was filed in March with the U.S. Court of Appeals, and Kevin Tripp said a meeting with an Appeals Court judge has been scheduled for early May. If the appeal is ruled in favor of the couple, Kevin Tripp said he and his wife would be looking for an apology and monetary compensation for emotional distress.